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  He's My Associate

  Cay Harrington

  Copyright © 2020 Cay Harrington

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9781234567890

  ISBN-10: 1477123456

  Cover design by: Art Painter

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  ONE YEAR LATER

  Connect With the Author

  1

  Cooper’s phone rang at ten past two in the afternoon. Work in half an hour. The ringtone startled him so badly he nearly fell out of bed where he’d been slumped over, half on and half off, pillow sagging dangerously close to the floor. He was drooling too, and only realized after he’d mumbled a hello into the receiver.

  He wiped his mouth and heard his mother, sing-song and very much awake, say, “Guess what I got for tomorrow!”

  He straightened on the bed and sagged there, sighing. “Was it the ham you’ve been talking about for a week?”

  “The last one!” she chimed. “And it’s a big one! Your father was so happy he was beside himself, you should have seen him.”

  Cooper hummed, picturing his stout, stern father. “You’re sure you got the right guy, mom?”

  Cat laughed. “You’ll see for yourself tomorrow.”

  Cooper swept his hair behind his ear, trying to comb out tangles with his fingers. He should ask, get it over with. “How has he been?”

  Her laughter died off. “He’s been good the last few weeks. He’s in better spirits, I think.”

  “That’s good.”

  “He’s looking forward to seeing you, honey.”

  Cooper blinked down at his sheets. “Yeah.”

  Cat’s tone shifted. “And he’s excited to meet your new friend.”

  That caught his attention. What new friend? He didn’t have any new friends.

  “Huh?”

  She huffed. “Last month you said you were seeing someone,” she said, and Cooper swallowed. “You said we were going to meet them for Thanksgiving, you were being so secretive about the whole thing. Really Cooper, you—”

  She went on, but Cooper couldn’t concentrate on what she was saying to him. New friend. New friend. Home for Thanksgiving. Meet the family. A total fib on his part to get out of an uncomfortable conversation weeks ago when he’d said the easiest thing to get her to stop bugging him about being single at his age.

  There were tons of single thirty-year-old’s. There were.

  As Cat rambled, Cooper rubbed the bridge of his nose, wondering how he’d manage to break the truth to his parents tomorrow. Not to mention his brother. His happily married, successfully employed, twenty-year-old little brother.

  He sighed and sank into the pillows.

  When he got into work, Cooper walked the familiar path to his boss’s door and knocked twice. Cooper heard him shout something unintelligible, so he walked in, coffee in hand.

  “You’re late.”

  “I’m actually not, but here you go,” Cooper said, setting the coffee down; three shots of espresso, caramel syrup, whip cream. He handed over the thick portfolio he held, and his boss took it, already glowering.

  “This will take ages,” he said, scowling. “Keep me company.”

  Cooper bit his tongue, wondering if it was worth it today to finally quit. He sat down. “Ryan, this isn’t really my area.” He didn’t want to be there, was all. He had paralegals to brief about what Ryan wanted from them for the day.

  Ryan didn’t look up from where he scanned the pages of the portfolio. “You know enough to sit there and keep quiet while I read.”

  So Cooper watched him, watched his green eyes skimming fast over page after page.

  A year next month would mark a year of working under Ryan. Cooper was a temp that was officially brought on when the last guy quit without any notice. Cooper was there to witness how manic he’d been, how upset. Ryan had just stood there and waved as security dragged the guy out.

  Then he’d turned to Cooper on the way back to his office, pointed a finger at him and said, “Follow me, scrub.” And now Cooper was in charge of getting Ryan’s coffee, Ryan’s documents, Ryan’s scheduling, Ryan’s phone calls to his grandmother every other month—Ryan’s everything outside of wiping his ass, and really, Cooper didn’t hold Ryan above demanding that too one day.

  Not exactly a promotion from his job as a temp, where he’d working as a paralegal, and it wasn’t like the pay was better either. Not like he didn’t have a Juris Doctor framed over his bed at home. Nope, not at all.

  Cooper just needed a job. His parents needed to see him working. It was something to do, and going from any temp job to a permanent position was ideal. Never mind the fact he couldn’t find a law firm to hire him on for what he was worth after school. All that wasn’t important—look at him now; working for one of the best firms in the state, as Ryan’s assistant. Ryan, who terrified anyone who entered his office on an off day. Ryan, who ruined lives with a phone call if the mood struck him.

  Though, Cooper had yet to have that fury directed toward him. And he found Ryan’s angry episodes were easy to navigate, easy to get him to calm down, easy to get his focus locked onto something else. May called him a miracle-worker. Was it really a miracle if he just wasn’t emotionally invested, and therefore had nothing to lose? Except for a job he didn’t like that much.

  Ryan snorted and laughed at the paper in his hands, ripped it out and threw the rest of the portfolio in the trash.

  Good mood today, Cooper noted.

  “I can’t really believe that O’Brien thinks this guy is worth his attention.”

  Cooper nodded, looking down at his hands. “Carlson’s an idiot. Ill prepared with shit lawyers. It’s simple patent litigation. He can’t expect to sell O'Brien’s already patented mesh-weave and think no one will notice. Carlson will lose if the judge isn’t in his pocket.”

  “Too true.” Ryan caught his eye and smiled. Mood lifted just like that. “Are you free this afternoon? I have a meeting, and I’d like to show the top floor what we have for the case so far.”

  Cooper wasn’t free. May wanted to show him her new favorite fried chicken place out by the water on first street. He’d been looking forward to it for days.

  “I’m free,” he said.

  “Excellent. Have any plans for tomorrow? I’ve noticed the others buzzing around about it.”

  Cooper stumbled for the words, surprised he’d been asked at all. “Yeah, actually. Spending the day with my family.”

  Ryan nodded and started texting, the telltale sign that it was time for Cooper to go find somewhere else to be busy.

  “What does that make it? Sixty-five, sixty-six days Ryan’s sideswiped your free time?”

  Cooper answered immediately, already knowing the number. He kept track. “One-hundred-and-fifteen actually.” May blanched. “He pays me for it.”

  She made a face. “What? Fifteen an hour?”

  “Twelve.”

  May swore under her breath. “At least he can’t steal away your holidays. Even he can’t legally deny
you Thanksgiving.”

  Cooper shrugged. “It’s not exactly a holiday I’m looking forward to.”

  May’s expression softened. “I know. Just keep reminding yourself it’s twenty-four hours of hell and then it’ll be back to the usual grind.”

  “Yeah, at least there’s that.”

  As soon as it hit one in the afternoon, Ryan swung open the door to his office and walked right into Cooper.

  “Jesus,” he said, straightening. “Why are you just…standing there like that?”

  Cooper held out the updated case file. “I knew you’d expect me early.”

  “Taking initiative.” Ryan held his stare, and Cooper saw his jaw twitch. “I like it.” He said it like it was the first time he’d ever bumped into Cooper waiting outside his office. Far from it.

  “I’ve always been here early when you have meetings. I actually wanted to talk to you about my position here—”

  Ryan narrowed his eyes for a moment before snatching the file away. He didn’t even look at it. “Come on. Let’s show them we deserve a gold star.”

  “Because they give you so many bronze ones, obviously,” Cooper said, sighing. He knew better than to think Ryan would let him get a word in edgewise about his job, his pay, his degree that was gathering dust.

  Ryan’s mouth twitched, he looked distracted. “You know me so well.”

  Ryan was all charm when sucking up to his boss. Slicked back hair, nice three-piece suit, short nails shining where they tapped against the back of the case file as he handed it over, ever the picture of professionalism.

  Ryan’s boss was a stout woman, with a face that made Cooper certain she had exactly zero capacity for any emotions outside of severe. She was old, though her hair was blacker than Ryan’s, and he knew her being Ryan’s mother, she was likely the only one besides Cooper who could navigate his moods.

  Cooper waited, observing how Ryan fidgeted. He always fidgeted when they went to the top floor. Fidgeted like the interns and temps and everyone else below him fidgeted when he was appraising something they’d handed to him. Fearful.

  He knew Ryan probably didn’t even realize he was doing it.

  She dropped the file to her desk and clasped her hands, looking up at Ryan like she was ready to eat him alive from one wrong word. Ryan’s smile stretched thin. Cooper knew something bad was coming.

  “About what we discussed last time—”

  “What are our chances with the case? I believe we have a solid win in there,” Ryan said, cutting her off.

  She nodded. “It’ll do. Now, have you come to a decision about what we last discussed?”

  Ryan pushed out a rapid breath. Forced a bigger smile. “Of course. I just think I should be allowed a little more time is all—”

  “This company cannot wait forever.”

  “I—”

  “Paul’s will was explicit in its demands,” she said, stare never wavering. Cooper felt like he shouldn’t be hearing this conversation, especially when it concerned Ryan’s well-known father. “You solidify your place here as partner when you have secured your status as—”

  “Yes,” Ryan hissed. “Yes, I remember.”

  She arched a brow. “Your father was adamant I not release your inheritance until after you are settled down.”

  Ryan’s jaw worked before he sighed angrily. He leaned forward, flattening his palms on the desk between them. “Mother, he was an old bastard, and he—”

  “Knew you’d never understand the demands of a company before you understood the demands of your own family. Those were his terms, no matter how antiquated you believe them to be. So, I’ll only ask one more time. Have you met anyone?”

  Cooper definitely shouldn’t have been hearing this conversation. He kept his eyes trained on the floor, the ugly patterned carpet, too red for the rest of the office. He wondered if they’d notice if he just slipped out.

  But Ryan turned slowly to regard him, locking such an intense gaze on him that Cooper knew before Ryan said a word what he was thinking.

  “Ryan—”

  “I have,” he said, turning back to his mother. “I was waiting to tell you.”

  She narrowed her eyes, looking between the two of them.

  “You know he specifically listed children as one of his stipulations.”

  Ryan held a hand up. “This isn’t Victorian England, Gloria. I do like to take my time to date those I’m serious about. And you know adoption exists.”

  Cooper licked his lips and tried not to laugh. It was absurd, the two of them together. Absurd that Ryan would ever, in a hundred years, begin to be attracted to anyone—let alone Cooper.

  Ryan was a workaholic; an angry, ruthless workaholic. He didn’t date, he didn’t even have doctor appointments. The man hadn’t seen a dentist in two years as far as Cooper knew. Ryan worked, ate, and slept.

  He didn’t flirt. He didn’t think about getting married, and—kids?

  And Ryan certainly didn’t step into someone’s space, hands too tight on their arms as he dragged them forward to introduce them to his mother.

  “This is Cooper Shaw. He’s been working for me for some time. He’s my—”

  “Associate,” Cooper said without thinking.

  Ryan’s nails dug into his arm. “Yes. Yes, we work closely together.”

  Gloria tapped a finger on the file. “You put this together, I presume?” Cooper nodded. She eyed her son. “And you know how I hate when you call me Gloria.”

  Ryan stepped so close his whole side was pressed to Cooper’s. He was warm, and Cooper wanted nothing more than to bolt out the door. “As you can see, Gloria, I have been thinking of when we last spoke. I take making partner and inheriting this firm very seriously. I never intend to squander what’s mine. Or what will be.”

  “How long have you two been together?” she asked, ignoring his last remark.

  Cooper glanced down, enjoying how Ryan floundered. He was so rarely flustered.

  “Four months,” Cooper said easily, letting the sincerest smile he could manage split his mouth. “Didn’t want to make it public until I’m promoted of course. But I didn’t know the situation was so urgent.”

  Ryan looked like he could strangle him.

  “Urgent,” Ryan breathed. “Yes.”

  “Smart to hide it to avoid the appearance of favoritism. I assume this is why I was not told?”

  Ryan opened his mouth to speak, but again Cooper answered first. “I insisted we keep it from everyone. My career is very important to me.”

  Gloria snorted, not unlike Ryan sometimes did. “At least to one of you it is.”

  Ryan squeezed his arm so tightly for a moment, it hurt. Then he was pulling away, trained smile back in place.

  “So, everything good here?” he asked, pleasant tone forced more than his smile.

  “Have any plans for the holiday?” She didn’t sound entirely convinced. It sounded vaguely like a setup.

  Cooper realized when Ryan looked at him then it was him waiting for an answer.

  “Uh,” he tried.

  Ryan grinned then, too sharp at the edges. “Thanksgiving dinner with his family. I’m meeting the parents tomorrow.”

  “Oh wow, you must really like him,” she said, not looking surprised in the least. “And where is your family from, Cooper?”

  Cooper smiled. “Florida.”

  Ryan’s chin dipped before he swung his gaze back up to Cooper. “Florida.”

  Cooper placed a hand on Ryan’s waist. “Took me forever to convince him to fly down. It’ll be easy to persuade him to finally promote me after the trouble that caused me.” And he laughed, because it was funny. He laughed because Ryan was shaking beside him, not from anything other than barely repressed upset.

  “If this idiot could get me down to Florida, he could probably get me to do anything,” Ryan said, the words coming out tight. “We’ll see.”

  Gloria breathed out, eyebrows high. “Well, good luck, the two of you. Can’t wait to hear h
ow it goes. Let’s hope there’s no problems, Ryan.”

  And just like that, Ryan was nodding and guiding Cooper out back the way they came.

  Ryan looked ready to murder him. Right there in his office. He’d probably manage to talk his way out of a guilty verdict too.

  “What the hell was that?”

  “Power move.”

  Ryan held his hands up, made a face. “Fucking yikes is what it was. You expect me to play along with this?”

  Cooper huffed. “ Unbelievable. You’re the one who dragged me into it.”

  Ryan shoved a finger at his chest. “You didn’t tell me you’re from Florida!”

  “I’m not. My parents retired there a few years ago. It’s only a few hours flight, Ryan. You could always, I don’t know, not go.” He swatted Ryan’s finger away.

  “I don’t have a choice,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “Then I guess you’re stuck with me.”

  That seemed to trip him up. He turned thoughtful. “You won’t go along with this for nothing.”

  Cooper allowed himself a little smile at that. “Ryan, you weren’t paying attention. You know what I want.”

  “You were a temp.”

  “Was a temp. With my license.”

  Ryan glared at him. “You want to be a lawyer, find some other firm.”

  “Ah, looks like you’ll be coming with me then. Sounds like your mom was serious back there.”

  Ryan turned toward his large windows, frowning. “She is serious.”

  “Well then, looks like you’ll have to give me that promotion then. Boo hoo. So sad.”

  Ryan scoffed. “Don’t be petty. It’s embarrassing. And beneath you.”

  “What, my sense of humor is going to make you less fake-attracted to me?”

  “Impossible,” Ryan muttered. The way he said it was odd, and Cooper wondered at it. “I bring you on full-time, give you your own office, you work your own cases…and you do this for me?”

  The question was genuine, and Cooper hadn’t heard Ryan sound so open in, well, ever. It made him consider the situation for what it was.